X Factor UK Headlines for 12/13/12

James Arthur on course for Number 1 with fastest selling single of 2012

‘Mediocrity and greed made it the worst series ever’: Jan Moir on an X Factor flop Well, in the end that was quite the X Factor series, wasn’t it? For all the wrong reasons rather than the right ones.

From Tulisa’s fag ash breath to Gary Barlow storming off in a toddler-style strop at Ella’s early exit, to Christopher ‘Baloney’ Maloney withdrawing from last night’s show in a huff, surely this will go down in history as the showbiz car crash at the end of the rocky road for the X Factor.

How could it get any worse? Two million viewers have already escaped, bolting like rampaging wildebeest, probably never to return.

Why? For a start, Simon Cowell’s natural authority at the top of the X Factor Christmas tree is much missed. Louis, Gary, Tulisa and Nicole can blather on all they want, but without Simon there to wave his magic wand and turn Cinderellas into stars, what is the point? There isn’t one.

This year, the rise and rise of the ghastly cruise ship yodeller Baloney, a chancer hosed down in fake tan and onion tears, made a mockery of the whole process.

Yet the greedy X Factor bosses only have themselves to blame. Read more: The Daily Mail

‘Tearing up the format’: Simon Cowell ‘faces crisis talks with ITV as The X Factor is set for revamp’ following ratings slump X Factor bosses are ‘tearing up the format’ of ITV’s flagship show after a string of disastrous viewing figures, with Sunday’s final drawing its worst audience for seven years.

According to reports, ITV bosses are set to hold emergency talks with Simon Cowell in anticipation of a complete overhaul of the show’s format and judging panel.

Despite putting more money into the show’s budget, ratings have halved in two years, and now show chiefs are said to be planning a ‘back to basics’ approach. Read more: The Daily Mail

He’s achieved the Impossible! James Arthur is crowned winner of the X Factor 2012 James Arthur is celebrating on Monday after being crowned the winner of X Factor 2012.

The 24-year-old put in the performance of his life in front of 10,000 screaming fans in Manchester to beat Jahmene Douglas to the coveted title.

The Middlesborough-born singer earned a standing ovation from the judges and brought the house down with his incredible rendition of Shontelle hit Impossible, which is now odds-on to be the Christmas No.1 single and has already topped the iTunes charts. Read more: The Daily Mail

He’s still Jahmazing! X Factor runner-up Jahmene Douglas ‘will sign a record contract with Simon Cowell’ Louis Walsh has predicted it many, many times: Jahmene Douglas won’t be returning to his job in the supermarket anytime soon.

The 22-year-old singer from Swindon sailed through to the X Factor final and consistently wowed viewer and the judges with his strong vocal performances.

Despite a stunning performance of his winner’s single, Let It Be, Jahmene failed claim the victory, but sources say this won’t be the end for the humble singer. Read more: The Daily Mail

Christopher Maloney came top seven weeks in a row! New figures show he was viewers’ favourite despite coming third Christopher Maloney may have been kicked off the X Factor on Saturday night – but he was still the viewers’ favourite for most of the series.

The Liverpudlian received the highest number of votes for seven weeks in a row, and was only overtaken in week eight by eventual winner James Arthur.

New figures show the 34-year-old singer, who refused to take part in last night’s final, hit his peak in week seven with more than a quarter of the public vote.

The series is ten weeks long and ended last night with Arthur, 24, being crowned X Factor champion and Jahmene Douglas, 21, coming second. Read more: The Daily Mail

Christopher Maloney ‘begged X Factor bosses to let him perform during final after foul-mouthed strop’ Christopher Maloney begged X Factor bosses to let him perform at the show’s live final after the foul-mouthed rant which saw him leave the programme ahead of the last episode on Sunday night, it has been claimed.

The Liverpudlian singer is said to have decided not to take part in the show’s finale, which saw James Arthur crowned the X Factor winner, after discovering he had only been given one line in the group medley performance.

However, according to reports, Christopher later changed his mind and even pleaded with producers to let him take part in the show just moments before the performance took place.

But a source said that Christopher had arrived too late to take part in the performance. Read more: The Daily Mail

‘She has no plans to go back on the show’: Cheryl Cole denies X Factor return amid reports of a 2013 shake-up It had been claimed that X Factor bosses were keen for Cheryl Cole to return to the judging panel for next year’s show.

But the Girls Aloud singer has now denied claims of a return, insisting she has ‘no plans’ to resume her former role.

The rumours began when Cheryl’s manager and close friend will.i.am was allegedly overheard telling dinner party guest about a prospective return, apparently telling them: ‘It’s going to be dope!’ Read more: The Daily Mail

‘I don’t understand why anybody would do that’: Nicole Scherzinger blasts Cheryl Cole for calling their first meeting ‘awkward’ In her autobiography Cheryl Cole described her first meeting with Nicole Scherzinger as ‘awkward’.

The Girls Aloud singer explained how she was left cringing after Nicole sang her track Promise This back to her.

Not impressed with the way Cheryl remembers their encounter Scherzinger, 34, blasted Cole making her look bad. Read more: The Daily Mail

She’s with the band! Taylor Swift spotted with One Direction at X Factor final as fans brand her the group’s ‘Yoko Ono’ One Direction fans have hit out at Harry Style’s new girlfriend Taylor Swift, viciously branding her the groups ‘Yoko Ono’.

Those directioners twitter slurs, which refer to John Lenon’s widow being responsible for The Beatles split in 1970, come as country singer Swift was spotted backstage at the X Factor final in Manchester.

Fans have become worried after the Never Ever Getting singer, 22, flew Harry from New York to the UK in her private jet, with the rest of the band flying on a scheduled flight – despite sources saying there was plenty of room. Read more: The Daily Mail

‘Nicole Scherzinger saves the best til last’: Celebrity designer Stéphane Rolland reveals stunning sketches of the X Factor final gown he designed for the star He has already designed for Cheryl Cole, Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian.

And now Parisian couturier Stéphane Rolland can tick woman-of-the-moment Nicole Scherzinger off his list of celebrities to dress.

Frenchman Rolland created a fishtail gown for the 34-year-old judge to wow fans at the live final in Manchester last night.

Gold panel detailing at the bust and a clinched-in waist completed the stunning dress, which marked the end of a series of style wins for the star against fellow judge Tulisa. Read more: The Daily Mail

All-out glamour: Nicole Scherzinger wows in show-stopping black fishtail gown… as Tulisa stuns in floor-length silver sequins at X Factor final They’ve been battling it out in the weekly X Factor fashion wars for the past eight weeks.

But Nicole Scherzinger and Tulisa Contostavlos made sure to save the best until last, with each of the leading ladies stepping out in showstopping ensembles as they took to the stage at the X Factor Final 2012.

And instead of going head-to-head in a fashion battle, both judges were winners with their choice of stunning outfits. Read more: The Daily Mail

Nicole Scherzinger’s £1600 kinky boots: Singer’s thigh-high X Factor heels featured hidden leather garter belts Nicole Scherzinger hasn’t put a foot wrong with her outfit choices during The X Factor and for last weekend’s final, she pulled out all the fashion stops.

As she took to the stage to perform on Saturday’s show with eventual winner James Arthur, she ensured she stole the show with her choice of kinky boots.

X Factor winner James Arthur leaves star-studded post-final party alone… despite rumoured romance with Caroline Flack He looked dumbfounded when he was crowned winner of the X Factor.

And it seems the reality of winning television’s biggest talent show prize still hasn’t quite sunk in for James Arthur.

The newly anointed X Factor winner looked decidedly bashful as he left the post-final party in Manchester in the early hours of Monday morning.

However, despite his recently acquired ladykiller status, James, 24, who has been linked to Xtra Factor host Caroline Flack, left the Manchester party alone. Read more: The Daily Mail

‘I definitely haven’t had the most sleep I’ve ever had!’ X Factor winner James Arthur is woken up from post-party nap on live TV He was understandably busy celebrating the biggest moment of his life on Sunday night after being crowned the winner of The X Factor.

So when James Arthur was forced to wake up for a post-victory interview on ITV’s Lorraine in the early hours of Monday morning, he couldn’t resist sneaking in a few minutes of shut-eye before going on camera.

As Lorraine Kelly prepared to interview James, the cameras flashed to the green room, where the 24-year-old singer was seen fast asleep under the same coat he had been seen out partying in the night before. Scroll down for v Read more: The Daily Mail

Take A Bow! A demure Rihanna wows in a white cutaway ensemble as she performs at X Factor final alongside One Direction and Emeli Sandé She’s known for shocking wherever she goes with her raunchy antics and racy performances.

But Rihanna proved she can just as easily do delicate and demure as she took to the stage at The X Factor final on Sunday night.

Performing a stripped back version of her latest track, Stay, the 24-year-old singer proved that she certainly has the X Factor with a flawless rendition. Read more: The Daily Mail

Still getting swamped by girls! James Arthur laps up the female attention as he celebrates his X Factor victory at afterparty…but still goes home alone He’s been snapped out and about with a number of girls since his X Factor journey began.

But for James Arthur, winning the X Factor doesn’t just mean a record deal, it means a whole lot more female attention.

And the star was lapping it up after his victory on Sunday night as he got up close and personal with a number of girls at the afterparty. Read more: The Daily Mail

EXCLUSIVE ‘Simon Cowell said I was a credit to the show… I thought it was a prank’: James Arthur opens up life after his X Factor win He may have been crowned winner of The X Factor on Sunday night.

But James Arthur has revealed he was in utter disbelief when music mogul and series boss Simon Cowell called him to congratulate him on his achievements, thinking it was his mates playing a ‘prank’.

Speaking in an interview with MailOnline, James said: ‘I spoke to Simon Cowell today. I thought it was a prank originally. He said I was a credit to the show and he really respects what I do and that he’d love me to stay true to myself and carry on doing what I’m doing.’ Read more: The Daily Mail

James Arthur triumphs in X Factor and insists he’ll defy Simon Cowell to play his music his way JAMES ARTHUR was crowned The X Factor winner last night – and insisted he’ll defy Simon Cowell to play his music his way.

The 24-year-old beat Jahmene Douglas in the final.

In a remarkable turnaround, James became the first ever winner to have survived a bottom two sing-off earlier in the competition.

He was almost lost for words when presenter Dermot O’Leary named him the winner. Read more: Daily Record

X Factor bosses confirm Christopher Maloney WILL take part in tour… as singer begs critics to stop Twitter abuse His inclusion on the X Factor tour was called into doubt following his reported behaviour ahead of the show’s final last weekend.

But now tour bosses have confirmed that Christopher Maloney will be taking part in next year’s tour, despite many of the finalists calling for former contestant Kye Sones to replace him.

A representative confirmed to MailOnline on Thursday morning that Christopher, 34, will be joining the show’s winner James Arthur and runner-up Jahmene Douglas on the tour.

The announcement comes after Christopher begged his critics to stop abusing him on Twitter.

Christopher has been targeted by many people on the social networking site since exiting the ITV1 show over the weekend and he has now asked them to leave him alone. Read more: The Daily Mail

‘Tulisa and I are like chalk and cheese but I saw her warm side’: X Factor’s Ella Henderson chats to FEMAIL about her mentor and plans to launch a fashion line 16-year-old singing sensation Ella Henderson captured the nation’s heart when she sang for her late grandfather on this year’s X Factor.

And since she first appeared on the hit ITV show, the humble Grimsby girl’s life has been turned upside down.

From Adele lauding her as ‘amazing on Twitter to record companies fighting to sign her, the young starlet’s future is most certainly looking bright. Read more: The Daily Mail

Trying to boost record sales? Tulisa gets straight back to the day job after X Factor final as she plays intimate gig…after poor chart debut The X Factor has certainly raised her profile, but unfortunately the same can’t be said for her record sales.

So in a bid to promote her debut album, Tulisa got straight back on with the day job after Sunday’s X Factor final, as she played an intimate gig at the BT Tower on Monday.

Instead of taking a break after her hectic weekend, the star clearly had her career on her mind as she took to the stage to perform a number of her new tracks at the BT Infinity event. Read more: The Daily Mail

James Arthur on course for Number 1 with fastest selling single of 2012 X Factor winner James Arthur is on course to top the Official Singles Chart this weekend with the fastest selling single of 2012 so far, according to the Official Charts Company’s sales data.

James Arthur looks set to debut at Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart on Sunday with one of the greatest opening week totals for an X Factor winner. Arthur’s debut single, Impossible, has clocked up sales of 255,000 copies up to midnight last night – according to latest Official Charts Company sales data.

The single has now already beaten the total of Little Mix’s opening week last year (with Cannonball selling 210,000 week one) and is fast closing in on Leon Jackson’s 275,000 opening week total (with When You Believe in 2007).

Impossible has already comfortably surpassed 2012’s previous biggest one-week total of 152,000 which was achieved by Cheryl’s Call My Name in June.

Impossible, which went on sale on Sunday evening immediately after Arthur was unveiled as the 2012 X Factor winner, is on course to become one of X Factor’s biggest hits. Only three X Factor winners’ singles have previously sold more than 500,000 in their first week – 2006’s A Moment Like This by Leona Lewis (571,000), 2008’s Hallelujah by Alexandra Burke (576,000) and 2005’s That’s My Goal by Shayne Ward (742,000). Read more: The Official Charts

I recently graduated from the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In my free time I like to read books, watch TV and listen to music. I'm also a huge cat lover.I cover X Factor UK for MJsBigBlog.com.

Much as I don’t like him, putting Chris Maloney in the tour was the right thing. I doubt they had a jerk clause in their contracts.

UK X Factor next years needs to make clear that by participating in the show the contestants incur some obligations – like preforming in the finals. This year’s group had some really charming performers and some brats with a monumental sense of entitlement issues. I still don’t get why Lucy wasn’t treated the same way as Ashley Baptise when she dropped out.